Teammates remember Franklin Parish player

A Franklin Parish High School football player died Friday night after he was injured on a punt return, police in Winnsboro said.

Franklin Parish High sophomore Tyrell Cameron was wheeled off the field on a stretcher in the fourth quarter and taken to the emergency room, according to multiple reports.

Aaron Monnin played on the football team at Franklin Parish last season and was a senior offensive lineman. The starters on offense used to work against the scout team defense and Cameron was a freshman middle linebacker.

“He was humble,” Monnin said late Friday night. “He was very instinctive and had overwhelming potential. We would tell him how good he was going to be and he never accepted it. He would just flash us a grin and shake his head.

“He listened to coaching and advice from upperclassmen. He listened to everything somebody would tell him. He worked hard and would pay attention to little things, man. He would pay attention to how big splits were on the offensive line, to see if we’re pulling or not. He was a great guy.

“There’s a lot more I could say but words just wouldn’t do it justice.”

The cause of death has not been determined pending an autopsy. Johnny Ogden, an investigator for the coroner’s office, said that has not been confirmed. Ogden said the autopsy is scheduled for later Saturday or early Sunday.

“He had a collision with another player and collapsed,” Ogden said. “Life-saving measures were performed and CPR was performed, but he was pronounced dead (at the hospital).”

C.J. Heckard was among Tyrell Cameron’s closest friends. They both played defense for the Franklin Parish High football team in Winnsboro, La., and were joking around before and during Friday’s night game, as they usually did.

Saturday morning, Heckard was left to remember his friend after Cameron died following an injury on a punt return against Sterlington suffered in the fourth quarter.

“The last words he said to me (during the game) were, ‘Show me something, C.J.,’ and I made a big hit in the game,” Heckard, a junior, told USA TODAY Sports on Saturday. “We would always joke around with each other talking about who would have the most tackles and the end of the game, and that’s what I liked about him. He was highly competitive.”

According to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research at the University of North Carolina, five players died last season of causes directly related to football such as head and spin injuries.Seven more high school players died from indirect causes such as heatstroke.

The Franklin Parish Football Facebook page had this message on Saturday morning:

“If you only know Tyrell Cameron in death, and didn’t know him in life, then you truly missed out on what is good in our country…he loved his family, his team, and the game of football. He will be missed…the next time you come across someone of a different race, or background, or religion, take a moment to get to know them, because you may get lucky enough to meet someone like Tyrell.”

Cobb said he saw some members of the family Saturday morning.

“I expressed to them our condolences and they have had a whirlwind of people of people expressing their support, through phone calls and social media and other means,” Cobb said.

Eddie Bonine, executive director of the Louisiana High School Activities Association issued a statement expressing his condolences to the family and community.

"As a former coach and administrator I have had the unfortunate experience that both Coach Sebren and Principal Gunter are currently enduring. However, as a father of three children, my heart breaks for Tyrell's family. I cannot imagine their pain."